Chapter 374: Time Paradox
When the Eternal Crusader and its escort fleet sailed into the Sol System's territory, that crimson planet—Mars—came impressively into view.
As the headquarters and holy land of the Adeptus Mechanicus, its orbit was surrounded by massive shipyards, monitoring stations, and defense platforms. Its busyness and strictness were second only to Holy Terra itself.
Almost at the exact moment the fleet was locked onto by Martian sensors, a vox-request bearing the highest clearance sigil of Mars connected to the bridge of the Eternal Crusader.
Sigismund signaled to connect it, and the holographic projection of an Adeptus Mechanicus Archmagos, clad in red robes and adorned with complex cog and skull heraldry, appeared.
His synthesized voice carried unquestionable authority: "In the name of the Martian Parliament and the Machine God, the Omnissiah, greetings to Explorator Magos Ryo.
"We have learned that you successfully restored and mastered certain precious technological heritage originating from the Golden Age of Humanity.
"Such sacred knowledge can only exert its proper, most powerful efficacy to better serve Humanity and the Emperor in the hands of Mars, in the hands of those of us who truly understand and revere its sacred nature.
"To disseminate it outwards, leaving it in the hands of mortals who have not been tempered by the fires of knowledge, is undoubtedly a blasphemy and a waste of the Omnissiah's glory.
"We demand that you immediately hand over all related technical archives and physical samples, to be properly safeguarded and further researched by Mars."
This rhetoric was not unfamiliar to Ryo. His built-in logic core almost instantly generated the urge to refute it.
However, before he could organize his wording, another vox-transmission bearing the same highest clearance sigil of Mars forcefully cut in, occupying another communication channel.
The projection of another Archmagos appeared. The style and insignia of his red robes were slightly different, and his tone was equally urgent, but the focus of his demands was entirely opposite: "Magos Ryo, do not be blinded by the narrow-mindedness of the conservatives!
"The true value of such Golden Age technology capable of reshaping the Imperium's power dynamics lies in its widespread application, spreading the wisdom and glory of the Omnissiah to every corner of the galaxy!
"And Mars, possessing the most complete industrial foundation, the most massive missionary network, and the deepest technological heritage, is the only qualified executor to push forward this great undertaking.
"We demand that you immediately sign a comprehensive technology-sharing agreement with Mars. Led by us, we shall promote this sacred technology across the entire Imperium!"
Looking at the two Archmagi in the two channels before him—representing different factions of the Martian Mechanicus headquarters, with opposing views yet both attempting to seize control of the technology for themselves—the servo-motors inside Ryo's massive mechanical body let out a nearly inaudible hum akin to a sigh.
The light of his crimson optical lenses seemed to dim for a moment, as a data stream of emotions blending absurdity and extreme helplessness washed over his processing core.
He even felt an urge, so speechless that he wanted to facepalm his facial armor with his mechanical hand—if his physical structure allowed him to perform such a human-like action.
Without a doubt, the Martian Mechanicus headquarters had started their traditional performance once again—an "academic dispute."
When facing new technology capable of changing the paradigm, the different internal factions, based on their respective research directions, desires for power, and varying interpretations of doctrine, could never form a unified opinion.
The conservative faction strove for monopoly and sealing, the radical faction thirsted for promotion and utilization, and even more factions likely swayed between the two.
At this point, Ryo also completely understood which faction had instructed that Martian fleet earlier—the one that did not hesitate to declare him a Heretek to forcefully seize the technology, only to be repelled in the end—or rather, it was the unauthorized action of a certain faction failing to reach an internal consensus.
He had seen far too much of this kind of internal friction and infighting long ago.
Sigismund clearly saw through the situation as well. He scoffed coldly, interrupting the debate the two Archmagi might have continued: "This is the Black Templars flagship, the Eternal Crusader.
"Magos Ryo and the technology he carries will be presented directly to the Primarch, Lord Rogal Dorn, and the High Lords of Terra for their decision.
"Please resolve your Martian internal affairs yourselves. Vox transmission terminated."
He gave the other side no further opportunity to pester them, cleanly and decisively cutting off the vox-link with Mars.
Silence was temporarily restored on the bridge, leaving only Ryo's silent disdain for Mars' deep-rooted bureaucratic and factional infighting style.
After Sigismund clearly stated his position and cut the communication, the fleet did not stop, continuing to sail along the predetermined route toward Holy Terra.
Ryo's massive body stood before the bridge's observation window, his crimson optical lenses sweeping over that crimson planet and its massive orbital facilities.
His sensor arrays captured a certain port area of Mars' orbital ring, where a fleet had just finished assembling and was beginning to slowly sail toward the Mandeville Point, preparing for a Warp jump.
A premonition based on data comparison and logical deduction prompted him to make a request of Sigismund: "Scan that fleet that just departed port."
The scan results were quickly fed back. After comparing them with the parameters recorded in the database, the conclusion was unmistakable—the fleet currently setting sail was completely identical, both in ship composition and exterior characteristics, to the Martian fleet that had launched the attack on them in the Death World star system and was ultimately destroyed.
This result did not surprise Ryo; instead, it confirmed a certain speculation he had earlier.
He calmly shared the analysis results with Sigismund, attaching a concise note: "The temporal turbulence effect of the Warp. To them, the journey has just begun; to us, their destruction is already in the past."
Clearly, this fleet had encountered one of the most perplexing and elusive phenomena of Warp travel—a time paradox.
On their timeline, they were only now departing from Mars, heading to the Death World to execute the mission of seizing the technology.
However, on Ryo and Sigismund's timeline, the fate of this fleet had long been sealed, its wreckage perhaps still slowly cooling in the void outside the Death World star system.
The Warp itself did not follow the linear flow of time of the real universe. Situations like departing today, arriving yesterday or leaving later but arriving earlier were rare but not unprecedented.
Of course, a trace of possibility also flashed through Ryo's thought core: were there some activated ancient technological creations interfering with the spacetime continuum behind all this?
After all, Humanity had created many incomprehensible powers during the Dark Age of Technology.
However, this thought only flashed by for a fleeting moment.
Ryo had neither the interest nor the time to deeply investigate the intricate reasons behind this.
His goal was clear and resolute: arrive at Holy Terra, meet Rogal Dorn, and present the two crucial cargoes they had brought through countless perils—the warp engine core and the Genesis factor sample—to the Primarch.
This was the overriding, primary mission.